Die set having automatic feed between successive stages

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use with an automatic press comprises a single die set having a plurality of stages or dies and punches for progressively forming desired parts. The lower die is provided with means for feeding the parts from one stage to the next at a right angle relative to the direction the strip is fed into the die set in response to each stroke of the press, and means for discharging the finished parts from the last stage. A drawing punch or blank holder is provided with a spring biased pin which is normally extended from a hole in the punch or blank holder and is retracted into the hole when the pin contacts with a blank so that a drawn part ejected out of the die may be held in the horizontal position during raising of the punch, thereby preventing it from overlapping with the next blank fed into the drawing stage. In the final stage, means for discharging the finished parts out of the die set is provided.

United States Patent Hosaka 1 DIE SET HAVING AUTOMATIC FEED BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE STAGES [76] inventor: Yasuhide Ilosaka, 411,

' Kamisckisuizimachi, Kofu-shi,

Yamanashi-ken, Japan 221 Filed: June 16, 1970 211 App]. No.: 46,721

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 18, 1969 Japan 44/48165 [52] U.S. Cl. 72/405, 72/421, 113/1 R, 113/113 R [51] Int. Cl B2lj ll/00 [58] Field of Search 72/405, 421; 113/1 D, 1 F, 11 A, 113 C, 1143 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,305,064 12/1942 Colwell et al 72/405 3,557,599 l/l97l Eickenhorst 113/1 F 2,232,071 2/ 1941 Laystrom 72/405 3,057,042 10/1962 Lawson 72/405 3,292,412 12/1966 Costabile 72/405 3,470,837 10/1969 Fraze et a1 113/] F 2,441,876 5/1948 Fleisch 113/1 D 3,245,370 4/1966 Bofinger.... 113/1 F 1,477,778 12/1923 Smith 72/405 [111 3,745,808 1 July 17,1973

Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-M. J. Keenan Attorney-Flynn & Frishauf [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for use with an automatic press comprises a single die set having a plurality of stages or dies and punches for progressively forming desired parts. The lower die is provided with means for feeding the parts from one stage to the next at a right angle relative to the direction the strip is fed into the die set in response to each stroke of the press, and means for discharging the finished parts from the last stage. A drawing punch or blank holder is provided with a spring biased pin which is normally extended from a hole in the punch or blank holder and is retracted into the hole when the pin contacts with a blank so that a drawn part ejected out of the die may be held in the horizontal position during raising of the punch, thereby preventing it from overlapping with the next blank fed into the drawing stage. In the final stage, means for discharging the finished parts out of the die set is provided.

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///// PRIOR ART 29 i PAIENIEB 745.808

' sum 5 or 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a die set for use with an automatic mechanical press, the die set defining a plurality of stages for progressively notching, piercing, blanking, drawing, etc. so as to produce a desired part in one die set.

When simple parts are processed by trimming, notching, piercing, blanking, drawing, etc. by separate presses, there arises no problem of efficiency and economy. However, the use of separate presses is inefficient and and uneconomical when parts having complex shapes are produced in large quantity at a higher production rate by a series of metal forming processes such as trimming, notching, piercing, blanking, drawing, etc. Moreover, manual feeding of the metal strip for each stroke of the press is a very tedious and dangerous operation.

To eliminate these defects, in the prior art, a plurality of separate presses required for processing desired parts are arranged in series and an automatic mechanism is provided so as to feed the strip from one press to the next for progressive forming desired parts. However, the space required for such systems becomes greater and the conventional automatic feeding mechanisms have the problems of efiiciency and productivity to be solved. Progressive and combination dies are used for achieving higher rates of production of parts desired in large quantities, for performing two or more normally separate die functions at one location. Straight pieces of metal strip are normally fed through progressive and combination dies manually by an operator or automatically by feed rolls or by a slide feeding mechanism. With these systems installation space also presents a problem.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide in an improved automatic mechanical press, apparatus capable of performing a series of metal forming operation such as trimming, notching, piercing, blanking, drawing, etc. in one die set, which press will be referred to as the press of the type described hereinafter.

'It is another object of the present invention to provide the press of the type described above having a feeding mechanism for automatically feeding parts being processed from one stage to the next disposed at a right angle with respect to the former in response to each stroke of the press.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide the press of the type described having means for preventing the overlap of a part processed in one stage and fed into the next with a part processed in said next stage so as to ensure positive feeding without causing jamming and without causing production of defective parts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the press of the type described having means for automatically discharging the finished parts in response to each stroke of the press.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the press of the type described above which is simple in construction, reliable and safe in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and highly efficient in production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, apparatus according to the present invention for use with an automatic mechanical press includes a single die set comprising a lower and upper die defining a plurality of stages for processing desired parts progressively in each stage; feed means including a slideable, biased, feed plate incorporated in the lower die for feeding parts from one stage to the next, the feed means being actuated in response to operation of the press.

Preferably, there is further provided means for preventing the overlap or interference between the next subsequent part fed into one stage and the part finished in this stage; and means for discharging the finished parts out of the die set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a lower die assembly of an automatic press in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper die assembly thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a feed plate and a cam attached to a ram or slide of the press for transferring a blank from a blanking stage to a drawing (or forming) stage of the press;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view thereof;

FIG. 5a illustrates overlap between the blank fed from the blanking stage and a drawn part in the draw ing stage and FIG. 5b illustrates a method of eliminating this overlap in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lower die assembly provided with a discharging mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the relationship between the feed plate and the discharging mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment to be described hereinafter employs a die set having three stages,that is piercing, blanking and drawing (or forming) stages and comprising an upper die (FIG. 2) and a lower die (FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 1, the lower die generally designated by A has piercing dies 11, a blanking die 12 and a drawing die 13 which includes an ejector 16 of con ventional construction. The first or piercing and second or blanking stages I I and 112, respectively, are securely fixed in series to the front section of a base plate 14 so that a strip fed through an inlet 15 at the leading edge of the piercing stage 1 I is first punched in the first stage I I, fed, straight into the second stage 12 and then blanked. Feeding of the strip from the first to the secend stage may be precisely controlled by suitable means associated with a metal strip feeding mechanism (not shown) or a stop gage (not shown) which may be disposed at a suitable point in the second stage so as to automatically emerge to stop the strip when the die set is opened.

The third or drawing stage 13 is located in the middle section of the base plate 14. The blank separated from the metal strip falls through the drawing die 12 and upon the base plate 14 and is fed into the third stage 13. That is, the blank must be fed at a right angle relative to the metal strip fed through the inlet 15 into the first and second stages 11 and 12. For this purpose, the present invention provides a feed plate generally designated by 17 in FIG. 3.

The third or drawing stage 13 is located in the middle section of the base plate 14. The blank separated from the metal strip falls through the drawing die 12 and upon the base plate 14 and is fed into the third stage 13. That is, the blank must be fed at a right angle relative to the metal strip fed through the inlet 15 into the first and second stages 11 and 12. For this purpose, the present invention provides a feed plate generally designated by 17 in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the feed plate 17 comprises generally a U-shaped plate having a front portion 17a, a back portion 17b and an opening 17c formed therebetween. A block securely fixed to or integrally formed with the back portion 17b is provided with a recess 18 in which is disposed a roller 19 carried by a shaft 18a mounted to the opposing walls of the recess 18. One end of the springs 21 and 21a are securely fixed to the block 20 so that the feed plate 17 may be normally biased backwardly along a pair of guides 24 and 24a away from the second or blanking stage 12. When the ram or slide (not shown) of the press is lowered, a cam plate 22 (FIG. 3) fixed thereto has its cam surface 22a made in contact with the roller 19 so that the feed plate is advanced in the direction of the front portion 170 along the guides 24 and 24a against the force of the springs 21 and 21a, thereby aligning the opening 170 with the blanking die 12. Therefore, the blank separated from the metal strip in the second or blanking stage 12 falls into the opening 17c. As the ram or slide of the press is moved upwardly, the cam plate 22 (FIG. 3) also moves upwardly so that the feed plate 17 is returned to its initial position under the force of the springs 21 and 21a. In consequence, the blank in the opening 17c is pushed backwardly by the side edge 17d so that it is fed into the third or drawing stage 13 and stopped by a stopper 23 (See FIG. 1 whereby the blank may be precisely held in aligned relation with the drawing die 13. The stopper may be movably mounted to the base plate 14 for adjusting the position of the blank relative to the die 13.

The upper die generally designated by B in FIG. 2 is provided with piercing punches 26, a blanking punch 27 and a drawing punch 28, all of which are securely fixed to an upper plate and enter into their mating dies ll, 12 and 13 for piercing, blanking and drawing. A pair of blank holders 29 and 29a carried by rods 31 and 310 are disposed on both sides of the drawing punch 28 and are normally biased downwardly under the force of springs 30 and 30a fitted over the rods 31 and 31a, respectively. The upper plate 25 is provided with guide holes which slidably receive guide posts 34 extending from the lower die A.

Referring to FIG. 5, the part drawn in the third or drawing stage 13-28 has a cup-shaped portion as shown so that it tends to be inclined as shown in FIG. 50 when ejected out of the drawing die 13 by the ejec tor 16. Therefore, the leading edge of a newly fed blank fed from the second or blanking stage 12 into the third stage tends to overlie upon the drawn part as shown in FIG. 50 so that the latter will not be discharged out of the third of drawing stage by a discharging member to be described in more detail hereinafter. In consequence, both the newly fed blank and the previously drawn part are drawn in the next stroke of the press,

thus causing serious damage to the die and punch. To eliminate this defect, the present invention provides a retractable pin 33 (See FIG. 2 and FIG. 5b) which is normally extending out of a hole formed in the blank holder 290 under the force of a spring (not shown) and is retracted into the hole when the blank holders 29a is pressed against the blank to be drawn. Thus, the drawn part ejected out of the drawing die 13 by the ejector 16 may be held in a substantially horizontal position as shown in FIG. 5b by the pin 33, so that the new blank fed from the second stage is spaced apart from the drawn part in the vertical direction as shown. In consequence, the drawn part may be positively discharged out of the third or drawing stage 13-28 as the new blank from the second or blanking stage 12-27 is being advanced into the third stage.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a device for discharging the drawn parts from the third or drawing stage will be described. A pair of supports 36 are disposed in opposed relation across the guides 24 and 24a upon the base plate 14 in such a manner that the supports 36 will not interfere with the movement of the feed plate 17 as shown in FIG. 6. A slider 39 carrying a discharge member 38 is slidably carried by a guide rod 37 extending between the supports 36 so that the discharging member 38 may be moved so as to discharge the drawn part out of the third stage as will be described hereinafter.

Sprocket wheels 42, 43, 44 and 45 are rotatably fixed to the supports 36 and the blocks 40 and 41 securely fixed to the guides 24 and 24a respectively. Chains 46 and 47 whose ends are securely fixed to the slider 39 and the block 20 respectively are wrapped around the sprocket wheels 42 and 43, and 44 and 45 respectively, so that upon movement of the feed plate 17, the slider 39 and consequently the discharging member 38 may be moved laterally of the die set, thereby discharging the drawn part out of the third stage.

The present invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected without departing from the scope of the present invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. Apparatus for use with a press, comprising a single die set having upper and lower portions, said die set defining at least two processing stages, workpieces being processed being progressively and automatically fed to each of said stages, said lower portion of said die set comprising:

a first processing stage for receiving material to be processed;

a second processing stage located in a lower horizontal plane from the horizontal plane of said first processing stage and laterally offset from said first stage for receiving the material processed from said first stage; and

feed means inclusing:

a feed plate slideably mounted on said lower die, said feed plant having first and second fixedly connected portions with an aperture therebetween for receiving processed material in said aperture from said first stage, said feed plate being slideable between a first position wherein said aperture is in registration with said first stage and a second position wherein said aperture is in registration with said second stage, said feed plate receiving in said aperture the material processed from said first stage and being alideable to its second position for feeding said processed material to said second stage and for positively locating said processed material at said second stage for further processing, said first and second portions of said feed plate being on either side of said aperture in the direction of sliding movement of said feed plate; means resiliently biasing said feed plate in one of said first and second positions with said aperture in registration with one of said first and second stages; and

means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for causing said feed plate to slide relative to said lower die against said bias and to feed said processed material from said first stage to said second stage.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises at least one spring coupled between said feed plate and said lower die.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feed plate is resiliently biased toward said second position; said press includes a cam thereon; and said feed means includes a cam means engageable with said press cam upon depression of said press for sliding said feed plate against said bias to said first position in registration with said first stage.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said cam means on said feed means is a rotatable cam wheel mounted on said feed plate.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said feed plate has an opening therein for discharge of the material processed at said second stage. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feed means includes a stop member mounted on said lower die and cooperating with said feed plate for defining a rest position of the material at said second stage.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lower portion of said die set comprises an additional processing stage located adjacent said first stage, said first stage receiving said material from said additional stage, and wherein said second stage is located adjacent said first stage at right angles to the direction of feed of said material from said additional to said first stage.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for discharging processed material from said secnd stage.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for discharging processed material from said second stage.

1%. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said discharge means includes a discharge arm movable in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of said feed plate in response to a stroke of said press for discharging said processed material laterally through said discharge opening in said feed plate during the upward stroke of said press.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said discharge means includes means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm for moving said discharge arm responsive to sliding movement of said feed plate.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm includes flexible cable or chain means fixed to said feed plate and discharge means and coupled to said lower die by means of pulleys.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said upper die includes a downwardly spring-biased pin extending therefrom in registration with said second stage for retaining said material processed at said second stage .in position for engagement with said discharge means during upward movement of said upper die.

14.'Apparatus according to claim lwherein said first and second portions of said feed plate are integral with each other, said aperture being therebetween.

15. Apparatus for use with a press, comprising a single die set having upper and lower portions, said die set defining at least two processing stages, workpieces being processed being progressively and automatically fed to each of said stages, said lower portion of said die set comprising:

a first processing stage for receiving material to be processed;

a second processing stage located in a lower horizontal plane from the horizontal plane of said first processing stage and laterally offset from said first stage for receiving the material processed from said first stage; and

feed means including:

a feed plate slideably mounted on said lower die,

said feed plate having an aperture therein for receiving processed material from said first stage and being alideable between a first position wherein said aperture is in registration with said first stage and a second position wherein said aperture is in registration with said second stage, said feed plate receiving in its aperture the material processed from said first stage and being slideable to its second position for feeding said processed material to said second stage for further processing;

said feed plate further having an opening therein for discharge of the material processed at said second stage;

means resiliently biasing said feed plate in one of said first and second positions with said aperture in registration with one of said first and second stages;

means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for causing said feed plate to slide relative to said lower die against said bias and to feed said processed material from said first stage to said second stage; and

discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of the'press for discharging processed material from said second stage, said discharge means including a discharge arm movable in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of said feed plate in response to a stroke of said press for discharging said processed material laterally through said discharge opening in said feed plate during the upward stroke of said press.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said discharge means includes means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm for moving said discharge arm responsive to sliding movement of said feed plate.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm includes flexible cable or chain means fixed to said feed plate and discharge means and coupled to said lower die by means of pulleys.

7 8 18. Apparatus for use with a press, comprising a sinrial processed from said first stage and being gle die set having upper and lower portions, said die set slideable to its second position for feeding said defining at least two processing stages, workpieces processed material to said second stage for furbeing processed being progressively and automatically ther processing; means resiliently biasing said fed to each of said stages, said lower portion of said die feed plate in one of said first and second posiset comprising: tions with said aperature in registration with one a first processing stage for receiving material to be of said first and second stages; and

processed; means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for asecond processing stage located inalower horizoncausing said feed plate to slide relative to said tal plane from the horizontal plane of said first pro- 10 lower die against said bias and to feed said processing stage and laterally offset from said first cessed material from said first stage to said second stage for receiving the material processed from said stage; first stage; and discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of feed means including: the press for discharging processed material from a feed plate slideably mounted on said lower die, said second stage; and

said feed plate having an aperture therein for resaid upper die includes a downwardly spring-biased ceiving processed material from said first stage pin extending therefrom in registration with said and being slideable between a first position second stage for retaining said material processed wherein said aperture is in registration with said at said second stage in position for engagement first stage and a second position wherein said apwith said discharge means during upward moveerture is in registration with said second stage, ment of said upper die.

t t 0' t said feed plate receiving in its aperture the mate- 

1. Apparatus for use with a press, comprising a single die set having upper and lower portions, said die set defining at least two processing stages, workpieces being processed being progressively and automatically fed to each of said stages, said lower portion of said die set comprising: a first processing stage for receiving material to be processed; a second processing stage located in a lower horizontal plane from the horizontal plane of said first processing stage and laterally offset from said first stage for receiving the material processed from said first stage; and feed means inclusing: a feed plate slideably mounted on said lower die, said feed plant having first and second fixedly connected portions with an aperture therebetween for receiving processed material in said aperture from said first stage, said feed plate being slideable between a first position wherein said aperture is in registration with said first stage and a second position wherein said aperture is in registration with said second stage, said feed plate receiving in said aperture the material processed from said first stage and being alideable to its second position for feeding said processed material to said second stage and for positively locating said processed material at said second stage for further processing, said first and second portions of said feed plate being on either side of said aperture in the direction of sliding movement of said feed plate; means resiliently biasing said feed plate in one of said first and second positions with said aperture in registration with one of said first and second stages; and means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for causing said feed plate to slide relative to said lower die against said bias and to feed said processed material from said first stage to said second stage.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wheRein said biasing means comprises at least one spring coupled between said feed plate and said lower die.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feed plate is resiliently biased toward said second position; said press includes a cam thereon; and said feed means includes a cam means engageable with said press cam upon depression of said press for sliding said feed plate against said bias to said first position in registration with said first stage.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said cam means on said feed means is a rotatable cam wheel mounted on said feed plate.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said feed plate has an opening therein for discharge of the material processed at said second stage.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feed means includes a stop member mounted on said lower die and cooperating with said feed plate for defining a rest position of the material at said second stage.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lower portion of said die set comprises an additional processing stage located adjacent said first stage, said first stage receiving said material from said additional stage, and wherein said second stage is located adjacent said first stage at right angles to the direction of feed of said material from said additional to said first stage.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for discharging processed material from said second stage.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for discharging processed material from said second stage.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said discharge means includes a discharge arm movable in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of said feed plate in response to a stroke of said press for discharging said processed material laterally through said discharge opening in said feed plate during the upward stroke of said press.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said discharge means includes means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm for moving said discharge arm responsive to sliding movement of said feed plate.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm includes flexible cable or chain means fixed to said feed plate and discharge means and coupled to said lower die by means of pulleys.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said upper die includes a downwardly spring-biased pin extending therefrom in registration with said second stage for retaining said material processed at said second stage in position for engagement with said discharge means during upward movement of said upper die.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said feed plate are integral with each other, said aperture being therebetween.
 15. Apparatus for use with a press, comprising a single die set having upper and lower portions, said die set defining at least two processing stages, workpieces being processed being progressively and automatically fed to each of said stages, said lower portion of said die set comprising: a first processing stage for receiving material to be processed; a second processing stage located in a lower horizontal plane from the horizontal plane of said first processing stage and laterally offset from said first stage for receiving the material processed from said first stage; and feed means including: a feed plate slideably mounted on said lower die, said feed plate having an aperture therein for receiving processed material from said first stage and being alideable between a first position wherein said aperture is in registration with said first stage and a second position wherein said aperture is in registration with said second stage, said feed plate receiving in its aperture the material processed from said first stage aNd being slideable to its second position for feeding said processed material to said second stage for further processing; said feed plate further having an opening therein for discharge of the material processed at said second stage; means resiliently biasing said feed plate in one of said first and second positions with said aperture in registration with one of said first and second stages; means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for causing said feed plate to slide relative to said lower die against said bias and to feed said processed material from said first stage to said second stage; and discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for discharging processed material from said second stage, said discharge means including a discharge arm movable in a direction transverse to the direction of sliding movement of said feed plate in response to a stroke of said press for discharging said processed material laterally through said discharge opening in said feed plate during the upward stroke of said press.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said discharge means includes means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm for moving said discharge arm responsive to sliding movement of said feed plate.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means coupling said feed plate to said discharge arm includes flexible cable or chain means fixed to said feed plate and discharge means and coupled to said lower die by means of pulleys.
 18. Apparatus for use with a press, comprising a single die set having upper and lower portions, said die set defining at least two processing stages, workpieces being processed being progressively and automatically fed to each of said stages, said lower portion of said die set comprising: a first processing stage for receiving material to be processed; a second processing stage located in a lower horizontal plane from the horizontal plane of said first processing stage and laterally offset from said first stage for receiving the material processed from said first stage; and feed means including: a feed plate slideably mounted on said lower die, said feed plate having an aperture therein for receiving processed material from said first stage and being slideable between a first position wherein said aperture is in registration with said first stage and a second position wherein said aperture is in registration with said second stage, said feed plate receiving in its aperture the material processed from said first stage and being slideable to its second position for feeding said processed material to said second stage for further processing; means resiliently biasing said feed plate in one of said first and second positions with said aperature in registration with one of said first and second stages; and means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for causing said feed plate to slide relative to said lower die against said bias and to feed said processed material from said first stage to said second stage; discharge means actuated responsive to a stroke of the press for discharging processed material from said second stage; and said upper die includes a downwardly spring-biased pin extending therefrom in registration with said second stage for retaining said material processed at said second stage in position for engagement with said discharge means during upward movement of said upper die. 